Watch This Space...

Holy Cow!

It's been over a month since I've blogged.

Some of you may find this refreshing.

It's not because I haven't wanted to, but life and circumstances intervened.

I'm chewing on some stuff that I've yet to fully digest and regurgitate here.

In the coming weeks (hopefully), you will find the closing chapter of The Steel Roof Chronicles (still waiting for the blessings of the Almighty Insurance Company), some stuff on Soldiers and Veterans, and on life in general.

Oh, and the Talk Show Idol thing?

CHML still hasn't gotten back to me. If you want to take it upon yourselves inquire about my status, contact the Program Director here. Or....jstorey@900chml.com

Later this week there will be a column with input from Thing 1.

Watch for it.

And if you look to your left at my profile, you will see an addition. Welcome aboard, Boy Thing! He's happy to be here and we are happy to have him. More about that later.

In the meantime, talk amongst yourselves and keep an eye here.

DJW

DJ apologizes to those who have been holding their breath.
You may now breathe . Thank you for your patience.

More bad news...again...like always...

Why do the news media outlets feel that we want to hear about the bad things in life?

Think about it.

The headline of almost any major paper or the lead story of almost all the broadcasts is usually about crime, tragedy, pain and suffering.

Headlines from 3 big papers and one small one today include:

• Sex Predator on the Prowl: Toronto Sun
• Helicopter Dropped Like a Rock: Toronto Star
• Elderly Eased Out: Hamilton Spectator
• Blight Ravages Potato Crops: Brantford Expositor

Gee, doesn't all that just perk me up.

Also, why do I need to know about celebrities behaving badly? And why is it news?

What possible difference to the economy does it make if Paula Abdul leaves American Idol? Or what effect will there be on the B.C. forest fires if John and Kate litigate?

One thing that I did pull out of today's news is that there will be a new show coming this fall..called Its Always Good News. Hosted by Connie Smith of CHCH fame, a 30 year plus veteran let go in budget cuts.

Also one local item with a personal link: Caitlin's Family Donates Warmer. A blanket warmer for McMaster Children's Hospital was donated by the family of this late tot, taken earlier this year by cancer at age 5.

And I had to dig this one up for M.D.B., a story from last year that could have been a tragedy: Man unhurt after being taken for ride when motorized chair gets stuck to truck grille. Poor guy crossing the road ends up stuck to the front of a semi, and could have ended up as road kill.

Two songs are running through my head right now, Don Henley's Dirty Laundry and Anne Murray's A Little Good News.

Dunno bout you, but I would rather hear about the good stuff first, kinda brace me for the bad stuff.

DJW

Some good news...the renovations are getting nearer to done!

John Rennison, the Hamilton Spectator

Your Opinion Counts! Really! It's Talk Show Idol Time Again!

Before a Politician embarks on a campaign they usually commission a straw poll to gauge their possibilities.

That's what I'm doing here today.

AM900 CHML Radio in Hamilton is resurrecting it's 'Talk Show Idol' contest again.

Some of you may recall that I entered the first edition in 2007, and finished second overall.

Some may say that's a great achievement for a kid from the country.

Some may say that second place is the first loser.

Some may liken me to Justin Guarini.

In any case, since my first go round I started this Blog to hone my ranting skills, and as a way to express my opinion to all those who care to read it. Or not to read it.

I asked for some people to select a 'Best of IMAG' collection and here is what they came up with:

• Double Dippers
• 'Scuse Me?
• He Never Served His Country
• Another Un-needed Law
• and the ever popular When I am King.
  

(click on the title to read the post)

So I throw it to you, folks.

Do I run again?

Or do I bask in my near success of the first run?

If I win, I can't promise a chicken in every pot, or no new taxes. But I will devote as much air time as I can to the various charities I've supported over the years.

...and I promise not to use the "N" word again.

DJW

DJ regrets and apologizes for using the word "Newfie" on the air.

The Circle of Life

I've been sorting a lot of memories in recent weeks. Funny thing about memories, one seems to trigger another.

While this overcrowded shed in my head is jammed with useless factoids like... there were just around 20,000 AMX's built ...and that Walrus's (or is it Walrusii?) eat 4,000 clams in 10 minutes, miraculously I still have room for some fond memories.

I remember things like evening drives going for a 'red pop'; campfires in the back yard; watching clouds with Ma and spontaneous jam sessions breaking out in the kitchen.

I am the youngest of the gang by far, with 11 years between myself and my sister. The official line is that I was the only 'planned' one and I'll stick with that. That gave me the luxury of being treated like an only child (with 6 parents no less) But the truth is, I had more time with Ma and Pa than the Big Four.

One of the memories that blindsided me the other night was a good one.

While we still lived in the country ( before I turned 11), Pa would occasionally pack us up a meal in a canvas ditty bag , which was usually a pork chop and some sliced potatoes wrapped in tinfoil, a few 'red pops' for me and a few 'brown pops' for him. He would then announce to Ma in a very man like voice that we were going "Hunting Bunnies", and bring along a couple of antique 22's he had. (Google Steven's Little Scout and Steven's Visible Action if you wish). We would drive 1/2 mile to the TH&B tracks, then walk the 1/2 mile down to a trestle that passed over a creek in the bush. We would gather wood for a campfire, and while our meal cooked on a rock in the middle, we'd hunt 'tin' bunnies that we found and set on stumps in the woods. Usually we would see a real bunny, and would try to get close enough to feed it with some the nuts that Pa always had in his pocket, but they frequently would skitter off.

The other night I took Pa for a 'roll' around the grounds of the Hospice. The area there must be 4 acres, and has lots of both landscaped and natural growth.

Much to his delight, we spotted not one, but two bunnies.





All these years later, I'm the one taking Pa out hunting bunnies.


DJW

He Never Served His Country.

He was a singer/dancer/entertainer.

A self mutilating, accused pedophile who in the last decade or so became a parody of himself.

I'm not even going to mention his name because I'm sick of hearing it.

He never served his country.

He never put his life in danger for anyone.

He never came under enemy fire or never had to fire back in his own defense or in the defense of others.

He never saved a life.

He died of an apparent drug overdose.

I'm disgusted at the amount of coverage given to this freak, and even more disgusted that the first 10 minutes of the news today was about him.

There was a Ramp Ceremony today in Kandahar for Master Corporal Pat Audet and Corporal Martin Joannette, killed in a chopper incident yesterday.

Yesterday... while a procession passed along The Highway of Heroes.

Cpl. Nick Bulger was killed last week by an I.E.D. in Afghanistan.

CHCH News in Hamilton pushed the Ramp Ceremony story back until after the 'first glance' at the weather. Even then, they only gave it one minute.

One minute.

Shameful.

To the families, comrades and friends of Master Corporal Pat Audet, Corporal Martin Joannette and Corporal Nick Bulger, I am very sorry for your loss, and saddened that a celebrity spectacle denied these men the respect they should have received.

They served their Country with honour.

They put their lives in danger for everyone.

They came under enemy fire and had to fire back in their own defense and the defense of others.

They saved lives.

They died with honour and dignity.



Corporal Nick Bulger Master Corporal Pat Audet and Corporal Martin Joannette

"At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them."

Lest we forget.

DJW

Timeline: Death toll in Afghanistan

Peacekeeper Park

More on Hard Decisions edited

Sorry, BLOGiste is a her, not a him.

A Blogger in Egypt picked up my Blog on Living Wills.

As he was writing a similar story, he asked if link to my Blog, which of course I agreed to.

His Blog, BLOGitse, is in Finnish I think, and seems to have generated a lot of response.

If you can read Finn, follow this link and read more.

I guess this just shows how small this planet has become, and how we all suffer the same trials.

DJW

This is cool, Bloggers Without Borders!

Hard Decisions Made Somewhat Easier

I am not the first person to lose a Parent.

I am not the first person to have to suspend life support.

I am not the first person to watch as a loved one passed away.

Things were made somewhat easier by my Parents.

A few years ago, they made a Living Will.

Dunno how Ma got that past Pa, but she did. Will's and life insurance are something Pa is wary of, due to superstitions passed down from generations of Coal Miners. She gave a copy to my Sister and I, and made us sit there and read it in front of her.

If we hadn't had that document, I don't know what would have happened.

The rest of my family have long known what she wanted, and more importantly given the circumstances, what she didn't want. When the Doctor called on Friday and gave us the ultimate prognosis, it wasn't what we wanted to hear.

But we knew we had to do what she wanted. To do anything else would be selfish and wrong.

When I came home from talking with the Doctor, M.D.B. and I sat the girls down and told them what was going to happen. It wasn't easy, but its part of being an adult.

Then we told them that we loved them, and we didn't want them to have to make the hard decisions if weren't able to. We made our wishes clear to them, and as soon as the dust settles, we too will make it a legal document. We love our girls, and to put them through unneeded trauma at a time of crisis would just be cruel. I urge anyone reading this to create a living will. If you don't want to pay a lawyer, you can get kits and software at most office supply stores, and getting it notarized is as easy as going to City Hall.

Living Will's are an expression of love.

Ma loved us enough to make the decisions for us.

Thanks Ma.

M.D.B. shares her views at This is Wonderland?